Hong Kong to set up independent committee to probe high-rise fire that killed 151

Hong Kong will set up an independent committee to investigate the apartment complex fire that killed 151 people, Chief Executive John Lee said on Tuesday. He told reporters that a judge will lead the panel and dig into what went wrong in the city’s building and renovation system to prevent anything like this from happening again. "I will establish an independent committee to conduct a comprehensive and in-depth review to reform the building work system and prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future," he told a press conference.

Reforms needed in safety standards

Lee said that authorities in Hong Kong had identified several failures, and that reforms would be needed in safety, supervision, construction and maintenance standards. He vowed that the “bottlenecks” would be addressed. "We must act seriously to ensure that all these loopholes are plugged so that those who are responsible will be accountable. The shortcomings will be addressed. The bottlenecks will be addressed." He vowed that the authorities would "reform the whole building renovation system to ensure that such things will not happen again."

Although Hong Kong has the legal authority to form "commissions of inquiry," which were previously typically headed by judges to conduct intricate fact-finding procedures—a legacy of British colonial rule—Lee used the term "independent committee" on Tuesday, according to AFP.

14 arrested over deadly blaze

Authorities said that the blaze spread quickly via netting used on exterior scaffolding that fell short of fire-resistance standards and failed to stop flames from spreading. Fourteen people have been arrested so far, most of them on suspicion of manslaughter. Eric Chan, the city’s number two official, called the suspects "shameful" and "cunning" and accused them of acting ”with deliberate intent and planning".

Deadliest fire in decades

The Hong Kong high-rise fire is now considered the deadliest residential building fire in the world since 1980. For Hong Kong, it is its deadliest tragedy since 1948, when a blaze triggered by an explosion killed at least 135 people.